JUN 19 -- (EAST ST. LOUIS, IL) - A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on June 17, 2009, Myles A. PAUL , age 38, of Lynwood, California, was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois, in a one-count indictment, charging him with possession with intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine. The offense is alleged to have taken place June 11, 2009, in Madison County, Illinois. The maximum penalties that can be imposed upon conviction are life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years mandatory supervised release.

According to a Criminal Complaint previously filed in this case, the charge stems from a traffic stop on Interstate 55 in Madison County by the Illinois State Police on June 11. A search of the cab area of the vehicle was conducted after a Fairview Heights, Illinois, police drug dog alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. The search resulted in the discovery of 83 kilograms (183) pounds of cocaine. The driver, Myles A. PAUL and sole occupant of the tractor-trailer, was arrested when he fled on foot from the Illinois State Troopers that attempted to arrest him after the cocaine was discovered.

The case is being investigated by the Illinois State Police, Fairview Heights, Illinois Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ranley R. Killian.